Kratom; add to Schedule III of the Uniform Controlled Substance Act.
HB 865 would reclassify kratom as a Schedule III controlled substance under Mississippi's Uniform Controlled Substances Law, removing it from its current unregulated status. This change would allow kratom to be prescribed by doctors for medical use (as Schedule III substances have accepted medical uses) while still requiring prescriptions and regulating its distribution. The bill directly affects Mississippi residents who use kratom, pharmacies dispensing it, and law enforcement handling related cases. Note: The bill title incorrectly references marijuana; this bill specifically addresses kratom, not cannabis.
Bill status
in committee
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 16, 2026
Last action Feb 10, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison
What changed between versions
As Introduced
→
Current version
·
5 edits
MODERATE
The bill was substantially rewritten from a cannabis legalization measure to a kratom regulation bill. The original version aimed to reschedule marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III and establish penalties for marijuana possession, while the current version focuses on adding kratom to Schedule III with no specific penalties mentioned. This represents a complete policy shift from cannabis reform to kratom regulation.
Scope change
The bill's scope changed from regulating marijuana to regulating kratom. The original version addressed marijuana scheduling, penalties, and exemptions, while the current version focuses solely on adding kratom to Schedule III of the Uniform Controlled Substances Law.
SCOPE
All provisions related to rescheduling marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III were removed from the bill.
New purpose clause added to amend Section 41-29-117 to add kratom to Schedule III of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act.
ENFORCEMENT
Penalties for marijuana possession and trafficking were completely removed, including specific gram thresholds and sentencing guidelines.
DEFINITION
Definitions and exemptions related to medical cannabis, hemp, and cannabidiol were removed from the bill.
REQUIREMENT
The bill was renumbered and restructured from a comprehensive cannabis reform bill to a focused kratom regulation bill.
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
6
Key actions
1
Committee
2
Feb 3, 2026
Lower · Passed
Title Suff Do Pass Comm Sub
lower
Jan 16, 2026
Committee
Referred To Drug Policy
lower
1 primary · 12 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Omeria Scott
DDemocratic
Co
Beth Waldo
RRepublican
Co
Brad Mattox
RRepublican
Co
Bubba Carpenter
RRepublican
Co
Celeste Hurst
RRepublican
Co
Dana McLean
RRepublican
Co
Donnie Scoggin
RRepublican
Co
Josh Hawkins
RRepublican
Co
Justin Keen
RRepublican
Co
Kent McCarty
RRepublican
Co
Lance Varner
RRepublican
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